Identifying parts of the instrument and understanding basic requirement for care and maintenance of the instrument.
Identifying and playing basic individual strokes: Right hand – te ते, te टे, ke के, thun थुं/di दी, na ना/ta ता– ki nar, ta ता- surLeft hand – ghe घे-index fingers, ghe घे– middle finger or ghe घे- middle and ring fingers.
Identifying and playing compound strokes: dha धा, dhin िधं, tin ितं, dhe धे
Identifying and playing basic phrases: terekete तेरेकेटे, taka ताक, dhadha tete धाधा तेटे, dhadha terekete धाधा तेरेकेटे, dhete धेटे, kddhe tete कडधेतेटे, dha dhin धािधं, ta tin ताितं.
Understanding the taal system and terms associated with it: Laya, vilambit, Madhya, drut, tha, dugun, tigun, chougun, aathgun, taal, matra, theka, sam, taali, khaali
Recitation and playing of Teentaal, Jhaptaal, Ektaal, Rupak, Kaherva, Dadra
Listening session for Teentaal:
Recognition of the saptak and ability to sing the swaras
Using a metronome and mirror for practice sessions
Level 2
Application of basic taals from Level 1 to songs or other vocal compositions.
Embellishing Teentaal and Jhaptaal thekas
Recitation and playing basic thekas from Level 1 in double and quadruple tempi
Repertoire in Teentaal –2 qaidas with elaboration (tete and terekete) 5 simple tihais1 tukda
Playing with nagma
Listening session for Teentaal in accompaniment
Using a metronome and mirror for practice session
Level 3
Application of embellished Teentaal and Jhaptaal thekas to songs or other vocal compositions
Laggis in Kaherva
More strokes and phrases (gadigena, dhere dhere, dhenegene, dhatrka dhetete kata gadigena, ghede naga)
Repertoire in Teentaal –2 qaidas with elaboration (tete, terekete)1 rela with elaboration (terekete)1 gat
Repertoire in Jhaptaal – 5 simple tihais
Recitation and playing of teesra jaati using Dadra bols
Basics of tuning the tabla
Playing with nagma
Listening session for Kaherva:
Using a metronome and mirror for practice sessions
Level 4
Recitation and playing of Addha/Sitarkhani, Tilwada, Punjabi
Revisiting strokes, phrases and previous repertoire and introducing devices for expression (dynamics, tonal color, texture)
New phrases – trka, dhadha gheghe taka, dhet
Repertoire in Teentaal –1 qaida with elaboration (teesra jaati)1 rela with elaboration (dheredhere)2 tukdas1 chakradar
Repertoire in Jhaptaal – 2 tukdas
Repertoire in Ektaal – 5 simple tihais
Recitation of misra jaati using Rupak bols
Learning to play the tanpura
Tuning the tabla
Playing with nagma
Listening session for Jhaptaal
Using a metronome and mirror for practice sessions
Repertoire in Teentaal -1 peshkar with elaboration1 qaida with elaboration (misra jaati)1 rela with elaboration (dhenegene)1 gat2 tukdas2 chakradars
Repertoire in Jhaptaal -1 qaida with elaboration (tete)
Repertoire in Ektaal – 2 tukdas
More emphasis on expression
Recitation of khanda jaati using Jhaptaal bols
Learning a madhya laya khayal in Teentaal
Tuning the tabla
Playing with nagma
Listening session for Dadra
Using a metronome and mirror for practice sessions
Level 6
Accompanying vilambit khayal (Ektaal)
Recitation and playing of Jhumra, Deepchandi, Ada Chautaal, Dhamaar
Improvising with instrumental solo (Jhaptaal)
Recitation of sankirna jaati using parts of Teental and Jhaptaal
Repertoire in Teentaal –Peshkar1 gat and qaida with elaboration1 rela with elaboration (taktak)2 gats2 tukdas2 chakradars
Repertoire in Jhaptaal -1 rela with elaboration (terekete)
Repertoire in Ektaal -1 qaida with elaboration (tete)
Repertoire in Rupak – 5 simple tihais
Learning a vocal composition in Jhaptaal
Tuning the tabla
Playing with nagma
Listening session for Ektaal
Using a metronome and mirror for practice sessions
Level 7
Accompanying vilambit khayal (Jhumra)
Improvising with instrumental solo (Ektaal)
Recitation of complex tihais
Repertoire in Teentaal -More improvisation in peshkar done in Level 6
1 gat ang qaida with elaboration1 rela with elaboration2 gats1 ladi3 chakradars3 tukdas
Repertoire in Jhaptaal – 1 peshkar with elaboration
Repertoire in Ektaal – 1 rela with elaboration
Repertoire in Rupak -1 qaida
Learning a vocal composition in Rupak
Tuning the tabla
Playing with nagma
Using a metronome and mirror for practice sessions